Nashua woman faces charges for assaulting her children

MANCHESTER — A Nashua woman was arraigned Wednesday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division on second-degree assault and simple assault charges alleging she assaulted two of her children.

Ruth Barrasso, 34, of 10 W. Hobart St., could enter no plea to the felony, which alleges she applied pressure to the neck of her 13-year-old daughter, causing her to have difficulty breathing.

She pleaded innocent to the misdemeanor assault charge, which alleges she struck her 14-year-old daughter in the midsection.

Bail was continued at $2,000 cash/surety, with conditions barring contact with the two girls and barring Barrasso from the Westwood Drive address where they are living.

A probable cause hearing on the felony was set for Feb. 12, when there will be a status hearing on the misdemeanor.

Organized retail crime

Steven Pierre, 20, of 48 Sterling Ave., could enter no plea in Circuit Court- Manchester District Division to a felony charge of organized retail crime enterprise.Pierre is accused of conspiring with a friend employed by Macy's to have merchandise given free or at discounted prices in exchange for $50.

Bail was continued at $3,000 personal recognizance, with conditions that include no contact with three specific people and not going to Macy's. A probable cause hearing is set for Feb. 12.

Accused of robbing neighbor

A city man was arraigned Wednesday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division on a felony charge of robbery. Police said Juan Rodriguez, 30, of 352 Dubuque St., was smoking with a neighbor when he pulled a knife and robbed the neighbor of $140.

A police prosecutor sought $7,500 cash/surety bail for Rodriguez, with conditions that include no contact with the alleged victim.

Police prosecutor Carrissa Pelletier told Judge Gregory Michael she had been unable to determine whether burglary and aggravated robbery charges on Rodriguez' record in Puerto Rico represented convictions or were unresolved. A probable cause hearing on the felony was set for Jan. 28.

Contempt charge

Because Justin Lerra was out on bail when he allegedly committed new crimes, police prosecutor Sgt. Stephen Reardon filed a contempt charge against Lerra, who pleaded innocent to all charges Wednesday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division.Lerra had originally been released on personal recognizance bail on charges of operating with a suspended registration and operating after suspension Feb. 5, 2013. He had failed to appear to enter a plea on several occasions and bail was set at $1,000 cash/surety on warrants.

The new charge of receiving stolen property alleges that on Oct. 29, 2013, Lerra had in his possession three stolen guitars valued at $1,000. A theft by deception charge alleges Lerra sold the stolen guitars to the Music Mill, 329 Elm St., causing the store to lose the $200 paid to Lerra because the stolen guitars were returned to the legal owner.

Bail was continued and trial was set for Feb. 24.

Denies resisting arrest

Pedro Jimenez, 32, of 228 Karatzas Ave., pleaded innocent Wednesday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to new charges of resisting arrest and contempt of court.Jimenez denied resisting arrest, saying he was just drinking something and wanted to finish it. "I haven't gotten into trouble," he told Judge Gregory Michael.

The judge disagreed. Jimenez failed to appear in Circuit Court Nov. 4 for trial on two charges of resisting arrest, disobeying a police officer, second offense operating after suspension, reckless operation and one-way violation.

He was also supposed to be in court that day on motions to impose suspended sentences on a 2013 simple assault conviction, 2012 convictions for conduct after an accident and operating after suspension and 2010 convictions for disobeying a police officer and operating after suspension.

The judge granted a police prosecutor's request for $5,000 cash/surety bail and trial was set for Feb. 19.